It’s happened at last. Liam Fox, one of the most gung-ho militarists ever to occupy the post of Defence Secretary, has returned to the backbenches. All the excuses and half-truths his supporters could come up with have not saved him. But his departure will be largely pointless if we don’t learn a great deal from the Werrity scandal.

On Tuesday (13 September), one of the world’s largest arms fairs will open in London. The London arms fair – known euphemistically as Defence & Security International (DSEi) – will see some of the world’s most vicious regimes and active warmongers send delegations to London to view arms and make deals.

The Campaign Against Arms Trade (CAAT) has pointed to nationwide protests against the arms industry as evidence of “public revulsion". Such feelings are expected to increase ahead of the London arms fair in September.

Peace protesters will be present when board members of United Kingdom Trade & Investment arrive for their meeting today, calling on UKTI to end its "disproportionate and unjustified" support for the arms industry.

The government unit responsible for promoting British exports, UK Trade and Investment (UKTI), is facing calls for an end to its role in the arms trade, as activists launch a new campaign to keep up pressure on the suthorities.

In a significant demonstration of growing opposition to Britain's involvment in the arms trade, Liverpool City Council has voted unanimously in favour of pulling its pension fund out of arms investments.